It has taken since 2009, when the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to establish a national regulator for the vocational education and training (VET) sector.
The new regulator will be an independent Commonwealth statutory authority and is being established through a referral of powers by the states (other than Victoria and Western Australia), and the exercise of the Commonwealth’s constitutional powers in the territories.
There will be a transition period for transfer of registration from state and territory regulators to the national regulator, which will start operations in July 2011.
Victoria and Western Australia
Victoria and Western Australia will continue to regulate VET providers that only deliver services to domestic students, and operate in Victoria and Western Australia.
Both states have agreed to enact legislation which will mirror the Commonwealth legislation.